THE AGONY OF REJECTION

ie's

into words. My thoughts were a tangle of thankfulness, dread, and something else entirely. It had been about a month since I join

een... present. There was something about him that made me feel something I hadn't felt since Tyler, and I couldn't deny it. However, it wa

cclimate, all while showing me patience. There were times when I felt my heart accelerate. These were calm times, like

d for this, and I wasn't willing to expose myself to any

oday. He'd pushed me more than anybody had ever done after our previous session. And I was becoming more powerful.

he shattered girl I had been. I was changin

aw the younger wolves engage in combat as his towering, dominant form was silhouette

e tone, he remarked, "

de a concerted effort to suppress the sensation. It wasn't about

e to follow. He said, glancing momentarily at me, "You've been impr

ow in curiosity.

ally suggested he had something difficult in mind. He gestured to the fi

blinked. "A

ronments, actual conflicts and scenarios are unpredictable. You should play ag

nything I had ever done before. It was tough enough to fight one

ieter, as if he felt my trepidation. "Carri

n his eyes that convinced me to trust him. He had never pushed me over my

a knot of nervousness rising in my c

eement, Ryan grinned. We

swift than the other. My body moved instinctively, utilizing every bit of experience and training I had to dodge and strike. Ther

ther well. Not only

pped the an

e field, he said, "Three opponen

orward. Every one of them was taller than I was, and their eyes shone with

was unable

the left, barely giving me a chance to respond. I sidestepped and rolled to the side, but a second wolf

as on me, snatching my arm and throwing me off-balance. I staggered, a

about what Ryan had sai

m, I twisted my body to escape the wolf's hold and threw myself

nd of movement. Every bodily instinct cried out for me

was over i

feat, as I stood gasping for breath. My muscles crie

triu

ward. He just watched me as I gathered my

tarted talkin

er felt more competent and alive. I felt like I was really in

nsaid that lingered in the air, but Ryan remarke

because of an intensity and calm power I hadn't observed before. He moved in closer,

a whisper when he murmured, "Carrie

e through my thro

ith his dark ones. "I've been co

ing of his statement? I started to reply, but b

w tightened as he stopped. "I want you to be more t

my thoughts raced. Was he really

reply, there was a

ried out, "Alpha Ryan." The tension in the air appeare

s tone, "There's somet

s Alpha instincts taking ov

urgent." "You must

ecoming more kind. He turned and followed Luc

As Ryan's comments continued to play in my head, I experienced a change i

just deci

no idea what was ahead. I also had doubts about m